Council buys £81,000 eyesore Bolsover shop unit to help revitalise town centre
Bolsover Council says better days are ahead for a run-down shop building in a prominent location after spending £81,000 to buy the property as part of a long-term regeneration plan – but its first steps have already attracted complaints.
The adjacent units on the corner of Bolsover’s Market Place were previously occupied by Croft Veterinary Centres and Bolsover Community and Voluntary Service, and after both relocated nearby questions remained about the future of the disused building.
Last week answers began to emerge as the façade was boarded up and the council confirmed it had taken ownership of the property.
A spokesperson for the authority said: “Bolsover Council is allocating substantial resources from its regeneration fund to revitalise the town of Bolsover.
“The fund’s investment plan aims to tackle various townscape issues, focusing on remedying market failures and repurposing vacant buildings that have lacked developer interest, including the former vets and the former White Swan public house.
“The intended end use for this building involves transforming the former vets – a disused and unsightly property, into a dynamic retail space.
"This space is envisioned as a hub for artists and creatives to showcase and sell their unique, handmade gifts, art, and homeware.
“The facility is designed to function as an incubator for a diverse range of products, including jewellery, ceramics, glass art, woodwork, textiles, 2D art, and willow weaving, among others.”
On top of the deal price, the council has already paid conveyancing fees of £3,150 and spent £2,675 on the security screening for the windows.
The property was acquired from Eville Investments Limited, a second business controlled by Croft vets director Peter Eville, and is said to have been left in poor and unsafe condition.
The council spokesperson said: “The building has been subject to a lack of investment in the façade, and as such the timbers are rotting and the glazing becoming more unstable.
"The council took immediate steps within 24 hours of purchase in order to protect the public from harm with the large glazing to the front of the property.
“There has also been anti-social behaviour with damage to the rear of the property, so all entry points to the building have been secured.
“Following a pavement closure application to the county council, the property will be hoarded off and protected whilst the refurbishment works are carried out.”
The timeline for that work is currently unclear, and the prospect of the shop being boarded up indefinitely has troubled some residents.
Commenting on Facebook, Stephen Clark-Smith said: “What they need now is a counter that displays days since they were boarded up.
“Days will turn into months, which will turn into years.”
Ian Round added: “Absolutely terrible, the council always take time to get thing sorted.
"Look around and see towns around in Derbyshire and learn from them.
"Encourage business back to the town centre with some urgency.”
Others made more constructive suggestions about the best use for the building and improving its appearance in the meantime with more decorative screenings.
The council appears to have something similar in mind.
The spokesperson continued: "There is a schedule of investment to be made in to the property which will be confirmed once the architects have completed a detailed scope of works and the tender is issued to the market for a contractor to bid for.
“The hoarding to the property will be erected to create a safe working compound for the contractor and this will remain in situ until the works are complete and the building ready for occupation.
“The hoarding will be decorated and made more presentable, but this can only be erected once a pavement closure order is granted by Derbyshire Council.
"Until then, the property screening will be painted and made more presentable.”